Collaboratives
Provided below is an overview of the seven state collaborative efforts and two national collaborative efforts that are working to improve educational outcomes for children and youth in foster care and former foster youth. To learn more, either click on the link provided or contact the people listed below.
California Efforts
- Northern California: The Northern California Consortium was established in November of 2005 and is comprised of representatives of post-secondary institutions with support programs for former foster youth. The mission of the Northern California University Foster Youth Consortium is to provide a forum for post secondary professionals who are involved in providing and creating support programs for current and former foster youth who want to achieve a college education. For more information, contact Connie Hernandez Robbins, CME Society, at 408-924-1098 or visit the website.
- Southern California: Since 2004, Southern California consortium members, made up of EOP directors, program staff and community partners, have met regularly to share strategies for success in supporting foster youth on their campuses. In four years, this group has grown to include college campuses from across California. The mission of the SCHEFYC is to support the work of member institutions and other individuals and groups committed to the promotion of future life successes of former foster youth through educational opportunities and development. For more information, contact Tristan Garcia, CSU San Bernardino EOP Foster Youth Program, at (909) 537-5042 or tgarcia@csusb.edu.
- : CLICK HERE. For more information, please contact Pam Viele at pviele@saonet.ucla.edu or (310) 206-3819.
The California Foster Youth Education Task Force is composed of subject matter experts representing more than 20 organizations and agencies dedicated to improving educational outcomes. Its purpose is ensure successful educational outcomes for California’s students in foster care by increasing awareness of their educational needs, promoting best and promising practices, promoting policy improvements and reforms across educational, child welfare, and juvenile and family court systems. For more information, contact Miryam Choca, Casey Family Programs, at 916-503-2950, or Jackie Wong, California Department of Education, at 916-327-5930.
The Los Angeles County Education Coordinating Council (ECC) was created by the Board of Supervisors in November 2004, and charged with raising the educational achievement of foster and probation youth throughout Los Angeles County. The resulting ECC brings together, for the first time, the major stakeholders responsible for the educational performance of foster and probation youth. Its 24 members include the leadership of school districts with significant numbers of system youth, county departments, the juvenile court, city and county children’s commissions, advocacy and planning groups, community agencies, and youth and their caregivers. The purpose of the ECC is to coordinate efforts across organizations and jurisdictions, encouraging networks of people to work together to expand best practices and fill the gaps in communities where little help or support for families is available, so that none of our children are left behind. Visit the website.
The Foster Youth Education Liaisons are Foster Youth Services, social services, and probation staff committed to improving the connection between agencies. For more information, contact Jackie Wong, California Department of Education, at 916-327-5930 or Craig Perini, California Department of Education, at 916-319-0200. You can also visit the website.
The Foster Youth Success Initiative is led by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. All community colleges have identified at least one foster youth partner who is typically housed through the financial aid or EOP office. FYSI coordinators meet on a regional basis to improve access to student services and resources, access to academic support, retention, academic performance, completion of units, completion of programs and degree, and transfer rates to baccalaureate programs. For more information, contact Tim Bonnel, Community College Chancellor’s Office, at 916-445-0104 or visit the website.
Meetings are facilitated by Orangewood Children’s Foundation. Members of the Southern California Council of Colleges include community partners and the directors of Guardian Scholars programs representing two-year, four-year, and vocational schools from five counties. The purpose of the Council is to share knowledge, offer mutual support and, provide space for networking and problem solving. The purpose so the Council is to share learning, mutual support, networking, and problem solving.
This group meets bi-monthly with representatives from two-year and four-year colleges, as well as other supporting agencies and organizations such as FYS. For more information, contact Stephanie Ortega or website Promises2Kids, at 858-278-4400.
National Efforts
CWLA is a coalition of hundreds of private and public agencies serving vulnerable children and families since 1920. Our expertise, leadership and innovation on policies, programs, and practices help improve the lives of millions of children in all 50 states. Our impact is felt worldwide. Visit the website.
Legal Center FCE is a collaboration between Casey Family Programs and the ABA’s Center on Children and the Law, in conjunction with the Education Law Center-PA and the Juvenile Law Center. The Legal Center FCE serves as a national technical assistance resource and information clearinghouse on legal and policy matters affecting the education of children in the foster care system. The Legal Center FCE provides expertise to states and constituents, facilitates networking to advance promising practices and reforms, and provides technical assistance and training to respond to the ever-growing demands for legal support and guidance. For more information, contact Kathleen McNaught, at ccleducation@abanet.org or visit the website.
To ensure successful educational outcomes for children and youth in foster care across the country, 12 organizations have joined together as the National Working Group on Foster Care and Education. The working group heightens national awareness of the educational needs of children and youth in care, and promotes best and promising practices and reforms across educational, child welfare and juvenile and family court systems. For more information, contact Susan Weiss, Casey Family Programs, at 206-282-7300 or visit the website.
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